Everybody is a critic when it comes to movies

April 7, 2019

A million years ago when pterodactyls filled the sky and PK first started working in print, I wrote many types of articles: human interest pieces, one-day travel features, health reports and my all-time fave — reviews. Mostly, they were about local theatrical productions. I must admit to taking a beating by some of my editors on my review reporting. Truth be told, I rarely made note of anything even remotely negative. So, I don’t like hurting the other humans’ feelings, a’ight? Sue me. Either way, a little Medina-based publication for which I once served as a ...

Another trip around sun and wishes are small

March 31, 2019

I recently celebrated another full, personal revolution around the sun. In PK years, I’m 51. Which means, I am officially older than: Fla-Vor-Ice, Sesame Street, Tic Tacs, PBS (for some reason, that one really smarts), Scooby Doo (zoinks!), Funyuns (remember those yummy, crunchy onion-flavored snacks that required Tic-Tacs soon after consumption?), and Woodstock. Um, that last one refers to the epic concert event, not Snoopy’s little yellow pal. That Woodstock, of “Peanuts” comic strip fame, obvi, is a full year older than me, I’ll have you know. So ...

Self-talk can help — unless you pick a fight

March 24, 2019

It happened last Wednesday. It was roughly 5:30 p.m., just about the time for a full day’s worth — make that a half week’s worth — of frustration to come spilling out. Literally. I was indignantly shutting down my computer and clearing off my desk following a particularly tough 12-plus hours. In keeping with the petty little, self-pitying and immature theme I had going, I tossed the red Solo cup I recycle daily for water into my credenza in what some might call a huff. You know, a little bit of a snit. Fine, I may have been acting the tiniest bit like a tired, whiny ...

St. Pat: More popular than the Kardashians

March 17, 2019

St. Patrick’s Day means a lot of different things to a wide assortment of humans ’round the globe. Yeah, that’s what I said. According to an article by The Business Insider last fall, the celebration is a worldwide one. Historians Mike Cronin and Daryl Adair report that it is celebrated in more countries than any other national festival. Apparently, this little Irish holiday — oh yes, make no mistake, wee folk consider it a holiday — is a pretty big honking deal. OK, maybe not officially. Formally, St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday only in Ireland and (who’da ...

Of course you can always make this stuff up

March 10, 2019

You can’t make this stuff up. I’ve always wondered why people say that? People make stuff up all the time. Liars. Fiction novelists. Film authors. Politicians (oh, sorry, I already covered that in the first mention). Actors. Teachers. Parents. Teenagers caught sneaking in after curfew. It happens. I digress. The point is, it’s been my experience as a writer, blogger and communicator that the true stories that are far more compelling, fascinating and relevant in most circumstances. Did I mention they are often flipping hilarious? Just like last Sunday, this week’s column ...

Just the facts, ma’am, but I’d prefer the food

March 3, 2019

Remember the show “Dragnet”? Wikipedia does: “Dragnet is an American radio, television and motion-picture series enacting the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective Sgt. Joe Friday and his partners.” It debuted in 1951, ran for eight years, then came back in 1967 for a few more. It was a crime drama, but in 1987, Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks made a hilarious movie based on the same characters. What stands out most about “Dragnet” was the disclaimer narrated at its start: “Ladies and gentlemen: The story you are about to hear is true. Only the names have been ...